London Daily Photo: Christmas Window Displaying
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Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged christmas, december, LDP, London, London Daily Photo, marylebone, MARYLEBONE LANE, Photography, street photography, window display, winter
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Win a TASCHEN Book and Afternoon Tea for Two with a Christmas Tree View at Belgraves, A Thompson Hotel
No matter how you stack them, books make great gifts. And the folks at Belgraves hotel and TASCHEN reckon they can be fantastic Christmas decorations too!
Keep reading to find out how you can win a TASCHEN book and afternoon tea for two with a Christmas treee view at Belgraves, a Thompson hotel.
Luxury hotel Belgraves has teamed up with uber cool publishers TASCHEN to create a Christmas tree installation that gives guests and visitors a quirky and exceptionally stylish take on festive season traditions. Made from 385 TASCHEN titles including Taschen’s Favourite Hotels, Billy Wilder’s Some Like It Hot and Julius Shulman’s Modernism Rediscovered, the seven foot tall tree is on display now until the 5th of January at Belgraves.
To help get the word out about this lovely holiday installation, and spread a bit of Christmassy cheers, Belgraves and TASCHEN have come up with a tree-mendous #BelgravesTaschenTree giveaway for my readers. Yep, I’ve got a free afternoon tea for two at Belgraves plus a copy of TASCHEN’s Tree Houses: Fairy Tale Castles in the Air to share with one of you lucky readers.
To be in with a chance to win the free afternoon tea for two at Belgraves along with the copy of TASCHEN’s Tree Houses book simply tweet the following:
I’ll pick one winner at random next Friday (14 December 2012) by noon (British time). Obviously, you’ll need to be in London to enjoy the tea and you’ll need a UK mailing address to receive the book.
While the tree is on display, Belgraves will also retail a curated selection of TASCHEN books via the hotel’s mini-bar offerings. A number of special new titles including The James Bond Archives, Gustav Klimt: The Complete Paintings and Her Majesty will be on display in the hotel’s lobby and can be purchased through the Belgraves’ concierge.
As part of this fun collaboration, Belgraves will also feature TASCHEN Magazine in-room, with a special VIP edition of the magazine available complimentary to those staying in any of the hotel’s sumptuous suites. Belgraves’ guests will also get a 10% discount available on all purchases made in TASCHEN’s Kings Road shop.
About Belgraves:
Blending traditional British hospitality with an American bohemian attitude, Belgraves brings the Thompson Hotels luxury experience to London. Thompson’s premier transatlantic addition is the most luxurious boutique hotel in Belgravia, London, offering upscale accommodations in the heart of the city’s most charming neighbourhood.
Belgraves is located at 20 Chesham Place, SW1X 8HQ.
Find out more:
thompsonhotels.com/hotels/london/belgraves
About TASCHEN:
Since the early 80s, TASCHEN has maintained its reputation as a publisher of excellent value art books while branching out into new areas such as architecture, design, photography, lifestyle, and classics. The brand has grown into one of the most successful and unique publishers in the global market, distributed worldwide in over twenty languages with stores in Beverly Hills, Hollywood, Miami, New York, Cologne, Hamburg, Paris, Brussels, Copenhagen, Amsterdam and, of course, London.
TASCHEN London is located at 12 Duke Of York Square, SW3 4LY.
Find out more at taschen.com.
Merry Christmas and good luck!
COMPETITION IS NOW OVER. THANKS SO MUCH FOR READING TIKICHRIS. PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR MORE FUN AND FREEBIES TO COME!
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Posted in Art, Books, Christmas, Competition, Design, Drink, Food, Freebies, Hotels, London, Shopping, Social Media, Travel
Tagged afternoon tea, begraves christmas tree, belgraves, BELGRAVIA, book christmas tree, books, christmas, christmas decorations, christmas tree, christmas tree made of books, competition, free, free afternoon tea, London, luxury hotel, taschen, taschen books, taschen christmas tree, taschen london, thompson hotels, Tree Houses: Fairy Tale Castles in the Air
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Fingers and Thumbs Pop-Up Shellfish Restaurant, Cambridge Heath Road
Just back from a fun dining experience at the Fingers and Thumbs Pop-Up Shellfish Restaurant near Cambridge Heath Station. £40 got a bucket for two filled with Canadian lobster as well as a lot of mussels, clams, razor clams, prawns, crayfish, potatoes and more all in a saffron mariniere served alongside some pretty decent bread, clarified butter and lemon rouille.
Other bucket o’ options included Cornish brown crab claws (£32) and tiger prawns (£36). I had a taste of the crab, and it was awesome. Oysters were £2 each or six for £10. Home made banana ice cream was £2 a scoop.
The pop-up continues tomorrow and Saturday. I had a great time as did Kemey and the rest of our dining companions (big up The Sheep and the Goats blog and The Londoneer). Something about the low key setting provided just the right kind of ambiance for friendly conversation. I reckon it was an ideal Thursday night out actually.
I highly recommend this no fuss get-your-fingers-dirty feast to anyone who likes fresh seafood. BYOB.
Fingers and Thumbs Pop-Up Shellfish Restaurant is located at railway arch 289, Cambridge Heath Road, E2 9HA. For details and to book visit the Fingers and Thumbs Facebook page or follow them on Twitter: @fingandthumbs.
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Posted in Food, London, Restaurants
Tagged bethnal green, byo, byob, cambridge heath, E2, E2 9HA, fingers and thumbs, hackney, London, pop-up, review, seafood, shellfish
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Visit Tokyo’s Oldest Buddhist Temple: Senso-ji (OneTravel)
Senso-ji is an ancient Buddhist temple. Located in the Asakusa district of Tokyo, it is the oldest and arguably most important temple in the city. With more than 30 millions visitors a year, Senso-ji is also one of Japan’s top attractions. A definite must-see item on any Tokyo agenda, here are few tips on making the most of your visit to this serene (if extremely popular and ever bustling) place of contemplation.
Read my complete post at the OneTravel blog.
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Posted in Japan, OneTravel, Travel
Tagged asakusa, buddha, buddhism, Buddhist temple, japan, OneTravel, senso-ji, sensoji, temple, tokyo, Tokyo's Oldest Buddhist Temple
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#SoupSearch Radio Interviews with Ainsley Harriott and Me
I spent Monday morning in the studio with Ainsley being interviewed about my #SoupSearch adventures and Ainsley’s World Kitchen range of soups.
Here’s a link to the bit we did for syndication; questions by David Brain:
https://soundcloud.com/cleanfeedmedia/ainsley-and-chris-full
And here’s a link to the interview we did with Gordon Swindlehurst of BBC Cumbria (our interview is about 46 minutes in right after the UB40 song):
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0110411
The interviews were set up by the fine folks at Cleanfeed Media. Those guys were total pros and a pleasure to work with.
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Just a Few Days Left to Win FREE Skype Prepaid Cards
About a week ago I mentioned this fun little Skype game I’m hosting that gives my readers a ridiculously easy opportunity to win up to £50’s worth of Skype credit. As the time to play draws near its end, I thought now would be a good time to share that info with you again. The game over date is 10 December.
You can find the link to the game at the sidebar of this blog on the right hand side of your screen.
Anyone who plays stands a very good chance of winning something. In fact, I know of at least one tikichris fan who’s scored a £50 Skype prepaid card. I’ve noodled around with the game as well and have been surprised to discover how quick and simple it’s been to win £2 here and there. Seriously, there is a very good chance that if you play, you will win.
The game goes “live” each day at 10am, 1pm, 5pm and 8pm (British time) until Monday the 10th of December 2012. To play, click through multiple layers of artwork revealing a different Skype emoticon each time. The first three people to click on all the tiles and reveal all the smiles win up to £50 of Skype credit (denominations of £2, £20 and £50). There are nine winners each day.
Thanks! Good luck.
COMPETITION IS NOW OVER AND THE GAME BANNER HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE SIDEBAR. THANKS SO MUCH FOR READING TIKICHRIS. PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR MORE FUN AND FREEBIES TO COME!
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Posted in Competition, Freebies, Graffiti, Travel, Video
Tagged competition, free, freebies, game, Graffiti, international calling, mister bartlow, mom, mural, skype, skype mural, SPONSORED POST, street art, tiles, Video, voip, win free skype credit
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London Daily Photo: Cracked and Cold
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Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged LDP, London, London Daily Photo, Photography, snowflake, street photography, window, winter
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Amazing 3 Bedroom Apartment for Sale, Canada Water, SE16
Photo from the Foxtons listing.
A close friend has just put his Canada Water home on the market. I’ve been to this stylish three bedroom apartment a number of times over the years. It’s very spacious, has a phenomenal kitchen and is a minute’s walk to the especially convenient Jubilee Line (Tube) and the East London Line (Overground) at Canada Water Station. So you can get to Canary Wharf, The City, Shoreditch and even Oxford Circus or Green Park in no time at all.
Here’s a bit of info about the place a la the Foxtons website:
Boasting a quiet, secure location close to transport links, this superb two bedroomed split-level apartment features, as its centrepiece, a huge reception room with high ceilings and an elegant skylight.
The property, which featured in luxury lifestyle magazine “The Hub”, benefits from gated off-street parking and direct access to a communal patio, also comprises modern open-plan kitchen, substantial study with fitted storage units, fabulous lower ground floor media room with bar, master bedroom with en suite shower room, good sized second bedroom, elegant main bathroom and utility room.
Pump House Close has a good variety of local shops and amenities nearby and is within easy reach of the popular Surrey Quays shopping centre, as well as the vibrant Canary Wharf complex via the Rotherhithe Tunnel.
Local transport links include Canada Water (London Underground Jubilee Line and London Overground) and South Bermondsey (National Rail).
And here’s the link to the listing:
http://www.foxtons.co.uk/search?property_id=834303&search_form=map&search_type=SS&submit_type=search
The apartment is well worth taking a look at, even if its £1.1 million price is out of your range. However, if a cool mill is in your range, this residence offers a lot of value for money.
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Jean-Christophe Novelli’s Christmas Menu
Priority Moments from O2 has teamed up with Ocado and top chef Jean-Christophe Novelli to help you create the ultimate Christmas feast.
In the first of four sponsored episodes, Michelin star chef Jean-Christophe Novelli shows us how to make a delicious starter for Christmas Day: Smoked Salmon Roulade with Watermelon. You can download the recipe here.
O2 Customers can get £25 off when spending £75 or more at Ocado. To enjoy this and other money saving Christmas offers visit http://www.o2priority.co.uk/moments or text MOMENTS to 2020.
Stay tuned for the next three episodes, in which Jean-Christophe demonstrates a twist on the classic Christmas turkey, a cheat’s Christmas pudding ice cream and a delicious alternative to turkey sandwiches for using up those Christmas leftovers.
Sponsored post
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Posted in Christmas, Food, Recipes, Shopping, Video
Tagged chef, christmas dinner, Christmas Menu, cooking, cooking video, Jean-Christophe Novelli, Jean-Christophe Novelli's Christmas Menu, michelin star, O2, Priority Moments, Priority Moments from O2, recipe, recipes, Salmon Roulade, Smoked Salmon Roulade with Watermelon, SPONSORED POST, Video
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Fingers and Thumbs Pop-Up Shellfish Restaurant, Cambridge Heath Road
I know what I’m doing for din-din tomorrow night: the Finger and Thumbs pop up shellfish restaurant at Arch 289, Cambridge Heath Road, E2 9HA. Sounds yummy, right?
Offering “BIG buckets” full of mussels, clams, razor clams, king prawns, crayfish, new pots, corn bread … and more (More! More!), this BYO feast promises to be a fun and tasty treat. It’s only on for three days though – tomorrow, Friday and Saturday (6-8 December) form 6pm to 10pm. Fingers (and thumbs) crossed I’ll be posting a satisfied review on Friday morning.
For details, prices, etc visit the Fingers and Thumbs Facebook page or follow ’em on Twitter: @fingandthumbs.
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Posted in Food, London, Restaurants
Tagged bethnal green, byo, byob, cambridge heath, E2, E2 9HA, fingers and thumbs, hackney, London, pop-up, seafood, shellfish
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Dubh Prais: Traditional Scottish Cooking on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile (CheapOair)
Located in the heart of the Royal Mile, Dubh Prais offers a hearty helping of welcoming Scottish character and, despite its tourist laden locale, has an authentically homey and off-the-beaten track feel to it.
Read my complete post at the CheapOair blog.
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Posted in CheapOair, Drink, Food, Restaurants, Scotland, Travel
Tagged cheapoair, dubh prais, edinburgh, haggis, restaurant, review, royal mile, scotland, scottish restaurant, whisky
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London Life Photography Exhibition at Getty Images, Westfield Stratford City
I had a great time at last night’s opening of London Life at the Getty Images Gallery’s Westfield Stratford City outlet.
Hosted by East Village, the exhibition showcases the work of some of London’s best amateur photographers – Kemey has an awesome pic in the show – alongside iconic photos from the Getty Images collections (old timey London pics, candids of celebs like Marilyn Monroe and Sean Connery).
In addition to the free eye candy, the gallery is having a Christmas sale with up to 50% off some prints. Maybe I’m a bit biased, but I think photographs make superb gifts – they ship flat and cheap too!
London Life is on view for free until 16 December at Getty Images, Unit 1119, The Street, Westfield Stratford City, E20 1EJ. More about Getty Images at gettyimagesgallery.com.
Photo/Kemey Lafond
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London Daily Photo: Marylebone Lane
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Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged december, LDP, London, London Daily Photo, marylebone, MARYLEBONE LANE, Photography, pub, street photography, W1, window, winter
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London Daily Photo: Can’t Catch Me
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Hong Kong Eye at Saatchi Gallery
Swung by the press preview of Hong Kong Eye at Saatchi Gallery earlier today. Really glad I did too.
Featuring more than 50 works by 18 top emerging artists from Hong Kong, this show is the largest ever touring international showcase to date of Hong Kong contemporary art. The majority of work has never been shown outside of Asia before including: Amy Cheung’s full-size wooden tank which visitors can enter and operate. It’s amazing and well worth a visit in and of itself. I also got a real kick out of viewing Adrian Wong’s large scale moving plush toy sculptures.
Hong Kong Eye opens to the public 5 December and runs until 12 January 2013. Saatchi Gallery is located at Duke Of York Square in Chelsea, SW3 4SQ. More at saatchi-gallery.co.uk. Check it out!
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Posted in Art, London
Tagged adrian wong, amy cheung, chelsea, chinese art, conceptual art, contemporary art, duke of york square, exhibition, gallery, hong kong, hong kong contemporary art, hong kong eye, London, plush toys, preview, review, saatchi gallery, SW3, SW3 4SQ, tank, wooden tank
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Berry Bros. & Rudd: Britain’s Oldest Wine and Spirit Merchant (CheapOair)
Berry Bros. & Rudd is Britain’s oldest wine and spirit merchant. A supplier to the Royal Family since the reign of King George III, historic customers have included Lord Byron, William Pitt the Younger and the Aga Khan. While Berry Brothers retains its title as official the wine merchant and vintner to the Queen, these days anybody can walk in off the street at their London shop for quality service and great advice on buying a bottle of wine for pretty much any budget between £5 and £5000.
Read my complete post at the CheapOair blog.
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Posted in CheapOair, Drink, London, Shopping, Wine
Tagged berry bros, Berry Bros & Rudd, berry brothers, cheapoair, London, st james's, st james's palace, wine, wine shop
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London Daily Photo: Smoking Snowman Graffiti
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Posted in Graffiti, London, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged brick lane, Graffiti, LDP, London, London Daily Photo, Photography, street art, street photography, word to mother
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Hamarikyu Gardens: A Green (Tea) Oasis Amid the Bustle of Modern Tokyo (OneTravel)
Hamarikyu Gardens is bucolic swath of ancient parkland and ponds on the site of the 17th century villa of the Tokyo’s first Shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu. Surrounded by Tokyo’s towering modern skyline, a wander round the gardens offers a relaxing opportunity to experience the old/new, traditional/modern contrast that’s so closely associated with contemporary Japanese culture and daily life in 21st century Tokyo.
Read my complete post at the OneTravel blog.
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Posted in Travel
Tagged hamarikyu, hamarikyu gardens, japan, OneTravel, shiodome, shogun, shogunate, sumida river, tokugawa ieyasu, tokyo
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London Daily Photo: Deck
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Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged christmas, LDP, London, London Daily Photo, Photography, street photography, wreath
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Christmas Feast Ideas?
As I mentioned on the blog yesterday morning, despite the fact that I’ve lived in London for about a decade, 2012 will be the first year that I’ll actually be here on Christmas day.
I’m gonna do it up with a tree (Kemey actually want’s to make our own ornaments – should be fun!) and of course I’m going to wanna eat lots of Yuletide yummies.
Like I did for my American Thanksgiving dinner a couple of weeks ago (as well as for a few other special occasions over the past few months), I intend to take a good long look at Great British Chefs for some cooking inspiration. GBC’s collection of Christmas recipes lists everything you need for a proper Christmas feast: all the way from the mince pies and mulled wine through to roast turkey with all the trimmings, tons of sides and the obligatory Christmas pudding. There are even ideas for what to do with any leftovers (Adam Gray’s hot turkey and caramelised onion tart with melting Stilton is an especially awesome post-feast option).
Writing for – and about – Great British Chefs for a little more than a year now, I’ve come to really appreciate this site/app/community as the handy resource that it is. Whether I’m pushing my kitchen knowhow to the limit with a recipe that’s a little more inventive and complex than I was capable of; whipping up something easy and resourceful; or simply skimming around to plot things out for a meal, life tastes better with Great British Chefs at the ready.
As 2012 winds down and a new year approaches, I’m looking forward to lots more better eating to come.
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Posted in Christmas, Drink, Food, Great British Chefs, London, Recipes
Tagged christmas, christmas dinner, christmas pudding, christmas recipes, cooking, GBC, GREAT BRITISH CHEFS, London, MINCE PIES, mulled wine, recipes, turkey
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The Factory House (OneTravel)
… it can be hit or miss around there if you don’t know what to look for. The Factory House is more than a safe best.
Read my complete post at the OneTravel blog.
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Posted in Drink, Food, London, OneTravel, Restaurants, Travel, Wine
Tagged bar, beaujolais, Brouilly Les Thibaults 2010, city of london, EC3, EC3M 7AA, JOSPER GRILL, leadenhall market, lime street, London, new restaurant review, OneTravel, review, wine
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London Daily Photo: Frosty Window
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Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged december, frost, home photography, LDP, London, London Daily Photo, Photography, window
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First Christmas in London
Wow. This year will be the first time I spend Christmas in London. Every December before this one, I’ve gone back to the States (well, there was the one odd year I “did” Christmas in Italy). Good news is no airports! Bad news is, of course, I won’t be with my mom and family or the close friends from various stages of my pre-London life. Bummer. But money’s tight, times are tight and my fingers are very tightly crossed that I’ll get over to the US at some point in the next few months.
Ex pat blues aside, I am actually looking forward to several aspects of celebrating the festive season here in London. Kemey and I are getting a tree and are going to make a lot of the ornaments and decorations ourselves. I’m sure we’ll pick up a few seasonal accoutrements along the way as well. I’m also pretty certain that once we’ve got the tree up and halls decked, I’ll take a gazillion photos.
Anyway, Christmas in London. What should I know? Do? Not miss? Are the Boxing Day sales really all that? I’ve heard that on the 25th the town is a virtual ghost town of a winter wonderland. That sounds amazing (and very photogenic – are you sensing a theme here?).
Any other ex pats out there planning their first Christmas in London?
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Posted in Christmas, London
Tagged christmas, christmas decorations, christmas in london, christmas ornament, christmas ornaments, christmas trees, London
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London Daily Photo: “Under Thy Wings”
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Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged clapton, E5, hackney, LDP, lea river, London, London Daily Photo, Photography, sea cadets, street photography
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The Unhallowed Horseman
A week or so ago, my old buddy Jude Walko got in touch with me to tell me he’s got a directorial film debut coming out soon. I’ve known Jude since I was 11 or 12 years old. We were the two blockheads in the back of our seventh and eighth grade classrooms cutting up the loudest and easily discovering double entendre meanings in even the most innocent of subjects. We laughed a lot. I reckon we were also the most creative kids in those classrooms too.
Called The Unhallowed Horseman, the Blue Falcon Productions film in association with Angel & Bear Productions is a contemporary re-imaging of the headless horseman story based on the characters in Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Jude also wrote this feature length film which will see YouTube sensation, Lia Marie Johnson, play the female lead. The Horseman is set to ride in 2013 with a projected release date of Friday the 13th of September. Spooky.
Find out more at theunhallowedhorseman.com. Good luck Jude!
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Posted in Celebrities, Movies, Video
Tagged angel & bear productions, angel and bear productions, blue falcon productions, film, horror, jude walko, lia marie johnson, Movies, the headless horseman, the legend of sleepy hollow, the unhallowed horseman, Video, washington irving, youtube
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London Daily Photo: TS Bulwark SCC
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Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged boat, canal, clapton, E5, hackney, LDP, lea river, London, London Daily Photo, Photography, street photography
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London Daily Photo: Capture
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Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged christmas lights, LDP, London, London Daily Photo, mayfair, night photography, Photography, street photography
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Drink Mezcal in London at Quiquiriqui (CheapOair)
And now there’s a newly opened Mezcaleria Quiquiriqui in East London’s Hoxton that’s stocking an impressive lineup of two dozen or so mezcals…and graciously little else.
Read my complete review at the CheapOair blog.
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Posted in CheapOair, Drink, London, Travel
Tagged bar, cheapoair, E2, E2 7QL, golden grill, hackney, Hackney Road, hoxton, London, mescal, mexican, mezcal, mezcal bar, Mezcaleria, Mezcaleria Quiquiriqui, qui qui ri qui, quiquiriqui, review, speakeasy
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#Soupsearch Continues … in Leeds
I spent yesterday with Ainsley Harriot and crew up in Leeds at the Symington’s factory (where Ainsley Harriott Foods products are produced and packaged). We chatted about my #soupsearch adventures, trial-and-error-ed our way through all sorts of concoctions based on what I’d sampled while in Japan and worked on a plan to move forward with our flavoursome findings. I think we ended on a pretty tasty note. I was certainly slurping plenty of our prototype toward the end of my visit.
I’ll write more about my day at Symington’s (just waiting for the okay on all the photos taken and to hear back a few things) but thought I’d give this behind-the-scenes and in-the-lab experience a mention anyway. I got to wear a beard snood during the almost mind blowing factory tour, and our soupy noodling even made the Yorkshire Evening Post. Of course, they failed to mention my blog in their piece but managed to spell my surname correctly. So (aside from the fact that I look like a maniac in the photo), I reckon it’s a good thing. Stay tuned!
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Foodie Fun in Japan (Great British Chefs)
During my visit, I hit bright and buzzy Tokyo, the mountain resort town of Hakone and the ancient capital city of Kyoto. Everything I tasted along the way was gorgeous. Indeed, I got the impression that it’s actually pretty difficult to come by a bad meal there. No one I encountered came across as a super food snob or desperately obsessed with eating, but the importance of cuisine and sharing food and drink with others seemed paramount to the culture.
Read my complete post at Great British Chefs.
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Posted in Food, Great British Chefs, Japan, Restaurants, Shopping, Street Markets, Travel
Tagged chunko nabe, food markets, GBC, GREAT BRITISH CHEFS, hakone, itoh dining by nobu, japan, kappabashi, kobe, kobe beef, kobe steak, kyoto, miso, nishiki, shinbashi, soup, tokyo, tsukiji fish market
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A Not So Snarky Take on The Factory House
Before making my way to the weeks old Factory House last week, I did a quick Google to see what lay in store for me and my taste buds. Yikes! A couple of heavy hitting reviewers did not like this place at all.
My initial pre-visit reaction to the reviews I’d read was something along the lines of “Ouch … that’s a bit harsh.” After dining at The Factory House though, I came away concluding that those couple of uppity reviews I’d come across really just seemed to be going for a snarky for the sake of being snarky effect. I had a more than satisfactory meal at The Factory House accompanied by a great bottle of wine. Service was fine. The setting was comfortable. I left happy to have been there.
I’ll admit the “refuge for the modern-day industrialist” kitsch was positioned just this side of cloying … but that’s for my tastes. It didn’t get in the way of the meat of the matter anyway. The design was pleasant and easy on the eyes. And a lot can be forgiven when there’s a Josper grill working its magic back in the kitchen. Friendly staff and cushy seats trump over-thought atmosphere too.
Besides, situated in the shadow of Lloyds and adjacent to Leadenhall Market, such a Victoriana vibe seemed to make some historical sense. And maybe theme-y stuff works with the general public anyway? It’s just cranks who write about restaurants all the time who get tripped up on such details.
During my visit, dressed crab salad with green herb mayonnaise and “Bloody Mary” vinaigrette (£10.25) provided a great start to my meal. I was just as pleased with my main course of guinea fowl with black pudding Scotch eggs, artichoke puree and medlar plum gravy (£15.25). A side of honey roasted carrots (£3.50) was tasty too. Brouilly Les Thibaults 2010, Beaujolais (£6.60 for a glass, £18.35 for a bottle) was a smart match for my main.
Kemey dined with me. She really liked her white onion and wild mushroom soup with Shorrocks toast (£6.25) and had no complaints about the line-caught sea bass with cockles, crisp potatoes and sea perslane (£19.50). For dessert, damson parfait (£5.50) and sticky toffee pudding (£5.75) with clotted cream were as yummy as they should have been.
Maybe suggestible apprehension lowered my expectations to such a level that anything remotely decent would inevitably get a thumbs up from me? Nah. I just liked the place and could see how folks working nearby could very easily enjoy a meal or after work drink there.
Considering price point and menu, I thought The Factory House was about as good as anywhere else I’m aware of around Leadenhall Market and a lot better than most options within earshot. It might prove tough getting enough punters through the doors though. My experience around that bit of The City has been that highly visible boozers with lots of standing room are most successful.
The Factory House is located at 10 Lime Street, EC3M 7AA. Visit the restaurant online at thefactoryhouse.co.uk.
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Posted in Drink, Food, London, Restaurants, Wine
Tagged bar, beaujolais, Brouilly Les Thibaults 2010, city of london, EC3, EC3M 7AA, JOSPER GRILL, leadenhall market, lime street, London, new restaurant review, review, wine
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Next Steps in Printing
So, last week I blogged a bit about brochures: how easy it is to get ’em wrong and how crucial it is to plan ahead to ensure you get them right. Let’s carry on to the next logical step and say you’ve checked and double checked and feel secure you’ve got a quality brochure design on your hands with good copy that’s ready to roll. Now the real fun begins! And even bigger decisions await!
Just a few of the questions you’ll have to answer for yourself:
- Who’s going to do your printing?
- Is this going to require next day turnaround, is it a 48 hour print job or … ?
- Have you shopped around for price comparisons?
- What are your delivery and pick-up options?
Once you’ve got your brochures printed, you need to continue taking as much care as possible when planning how to share them. But maybe I’ll save those issues for another post.
Put some thought into the design and text of your brochure, choose your printer and printing options wisely, be a little greedy handing out your brochures and make sure you’re getting value for money when they go to print and you should see positive results in no time … and ensure all your hard work doesn’t end up going straight into the recycling!
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Posted in Design
Tagged 24 Hour Print, 48 hour print, brochures, design, online printing, print job turnaround, printing, SPONSORED POST
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Le Louvre-Lens 12/12/12
Posted in Art, France, Video
Tagged 12.12.12, calais, france, Le Louvre-Lens, louvre, museum, opening, Pas-de-Calais, SANAA, SPONSORED POST, Video
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London Daily Photo: Night Lights
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Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged LDP, London, london at night, London Daily Photo, night photography, Photography, skyline, street photography
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Edwin’s French Wine Bar Brings Great Gallic Food and Drink to East London (CheapOair)
There’s a new wine bar just opened in East London’s super hip Shoreditch. It’s a good one too, offering up a smartly curated list of French wines and a tasty menu of Lyonnaise dishes.
Read my complete post at the CheapOair blog.
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Posted in CheapOair, Drink, Food, London, Restaurants, Travel, Wine
Tagged cheapoair, EC2, EC2A 4NU., Edwin's, Edwin's French Wine Bar, Edwin's French Wine Bar and Restaurant, foie gras, french cuisine, french food, french restaurant, french wine, London, lyonnaise, new restaurant review, Phipp Street, restaurant, review, shoreditch, wine bar
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